Compare towns

Reading vs Strafford vs Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureReadingStraffordWindsor
People
Population
699Lowest
1,372
2,060Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.1±7.6
19% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
44.6±12.3Lowest
3% above VT
Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±8.8
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46%
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
40%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below VT
Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$170,300±$22kLowest
46% below VT
Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
$1,125±$789Highest
9% below VT
$1,002±$107Lowest
19% below VT
Strafford and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,754
14% above VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,878Lowest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
31.4%±20Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
51.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
23 min
about the VT average
22 minLowest
6% below VT
Work from home
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #61 of 70 in VT
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Strafford School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.